JESUS CARES ... DO WE? (CC)

SUNDAY, JULY 14, 2013 PASTOR DAVE'S SERMON SERMON TEXT: ROMANS 12:9-21 LET US RISE FOR THE READING OF THIS MORNING'S SERMON TEXT RECORDED FOR US BY PAUL IN THE BOOK OF ROMANS WHERE WE READ FROM CHAPTER 12 BEGINNING WITH VERSE 9: LOVE MUST BE SINCERE. HATE WHAT IS EVIL; CLING TO WHAT IS GOOD. BE DEVOTED TO ONE ANOTHER IN BROTHERLY LOVE. HONOR ONE ANOTHER ABOVE YOURSELVES. NEVER BE LACKING IN ZEAL, BUT KEEP YOUR SPIRITUAL FERVOR, SERVING THE LORD. BE JOYFUL IN HOPE, PATIENT IN AFFLICTION, FAITHFUL IN PRAYER. SHARE WITH GOD'S PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED. PRACTICE HOSPITALITY. BLESS THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU; BLESS AND DO NOT CURSE. REJOICE WITH THOSE WHO REJOICE. MOURN WITH THOSE WHO MOURN. LIVE IN HARMONY WITH ONE ANOTHER. DO NOT BE PROUD, BUT BE WILLING TO ASSOCIATE WITH PEOPLE OF LOW POSITION. DO NOT BE CONCEITED. DO NOT REPAY ANYONE EVIL FOR EVIL. BE CAREFUL TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE EYES OF EVERYBODY. IF IT IS POSSIBLE, AS FAR AS IT DEPENDS ON YOU, LIVE AT PEACE WITH EVERYONE. DO NOT TAKE REVENGE, MY FRIENDS, BUT LEAVE ROOM FOR GOD'S WRATH, FOR IT IS WRITTEN: "IT IS MINE TO AVENGE; I WILL REPAY," SAYS THE LORD. ON THE CONTRARY: "IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM SOMETHING TO DRINK. IN DOING THIS, YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD." DO NOT BE OVERCOME BY EVIL, BUT OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD. THIS IS THE WORD OF OUR LORD. LET US PRAY: GLORIOUS AND GRACIOUS GOD, MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND THE MEDITATION OF EACH OF OUR HEARTS BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT, OUR ONLY SOURCE OF HOPE AND COMFORT. AMEN. [TEXT TAKEN FROM THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, 1973, 1978, 1984, USED BY PERMISSION OF ZONDERVAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS] DEAR FOLLOWERS OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST: IN THE OPENING NUMBER FROM THE MUSICAL "ZORBA", THE CAST PUT FORTH THIS STATEMENT: LIFE IS WHAT YOU DO WHILE YOU ARE WAITING TO DIE. IT'S A GREAT STATEMENT BECAUSE YOU CAN TAKE THAT FROM WHATEVER PERSPECTIVE YOUR LIFE IS AND PUT YOUR OWN SPIN ON IT. LIFE IS WHAT YOU DO WHILE YOU'RE WAITING TO DIE. IF YOU'RE A POSITIVE PERSON, YOU THINK OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT LIFE OFFERS YOU THAT ARE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS THAT YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO YOU TO GO OUT AND ENJOY AND EXPERIENCE BEFORE YOU PASS FROM THIS EARTH. LIFE IS WHAT YOU DO WHILE YOU'RE WAITING TO DIE. FOR THE PESSIMIST IS THE TICK, TICK, TICK OF THE CLOCK. HOW LONG LIFE IS. WITH NOTHING TO DO WITH A LIST OF BROKEN DREAMS; A BUCKET LIST THAT IS NEVER GOING TO BE COMPLETED. A LIFE THAT HAS JUST BEEN SAD, BECAUSE ALL THAT PERSON HAS DONE IS NOT LIVED. LIFE IS WHAT YOU DO WHILE YOU'RE WAITING TO DIE. WHAT A STATEMENT AND A REMINDER FOR US EVEN AS CHRISTIANS, TO LIVE. AND THAT'S WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID TO THE CHURCH IN ROME AND HE SAYS TO US: CHRISTIANS, LIVE! NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO BE ACTIVE IN YOUR FAITH. NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO LIVE BECAUSE THIS IS THE PERIOD OF GRACE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO YOU. THE TIME THAT GOD HAS SET FOR YOU TO BE IN THIS WORLD. HE GAVE YOU YOUR BIRTH. HE WILL ALSO GIVE YOU YOUR DEATH. AND THE TIME BETWEEN THOSE TWO IS HIS TIME OF GRACE. THE PERIOD IN WHICH HE HAS CALLED YOU TO BE HIS OWN HAS REMINDED YOU OF HIS LOVE FOR YOU BECAUSE HE SAVED YOU FROM YOUR SINS. AND NOW IS THAT TIME FOR YOU TO GET UP AS THE CHILD OF GOD AND LIVE YOUR FAITH. IT IS WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO YOU TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE AND THERE IS NOT TIME FOR US TO SIT BACK IN OUR SPIRITUAL RECLINER WAITING FOR SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE TO START ACTING LIKE THE CHILDREN OF GOD TO START PUTTING OUR FAITH INTO PRACTICE. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT ALL OF THE ENCOURAGEMENT THAT PAUL GIVES US IN THIS SHORT SECTION FROM HIS LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT ROME AND REALIZE THAT WE HAVE WORK TO DO. THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES ALL AROUND US TO SHOW OUR FAITH; TO SHOW THAT OUR LOVE IS SINCERE. TO STOP HATING OTHER PEOPLE. TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE AND TREAT THEM WITH KINDNESS AND LOVE. TO NOT BE CONCEITED. TO BE ABLE AND WILLING TO TALK AND ASSOCIATE WITH ANY PERSON. NO MATTER OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN. NO MATTER OF THE LANGUAGE THAT COMES OUT OF THEIR MOUTH. NO MATTER WHAT THEIR PAYCHECK IS, NO MATTER WHAT DISTRICT THEY LIVE IN. BUT TO LOVE OTHER PEOPLE. AS CHRISTIANS, NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO BE THE ONES SHOWING THAT EXAMPLE. AND TO NOT LOSE OUR SPIRITUAL FERVOR. TO HAVE THAT DESIRE TO DO WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO. I KNOW WE ALL HAVE PLANS FOR OUR LIFE. SOME OF US EVEN HAVE BUCKET LISTS. MY NIECE, WHO IS IN HER EARLY 30'S, HAS A BUCKET LIST. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? SHE DOES THE THINGS ON THAT LIST. AS SIMPLE AS THEY MIGHT BE: TRYING TO BAKE BREAD FROM YEAST. BUT IT'S A GOAL, AND SHE MEETS THAT GOAL. WHAT ABOUT THE GOALS OF OUR LIFE OF FAITH? DO WE EVEN HAVE ANY? DO WE WANT TO GROW IN FAITH? DO WE WANT TO GROW IN UNDERSTANDING? DO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHOW OUR FAITH? DO WE WANT TO TREAT OUR ENEMIES WITH LOVE? BECAUSE IF THEY'RE HUNGRY, WE SHOULD BE FEEDING THEM. IF THEY'RE THIRSTY, WE SHOULD BE GIVING THEM SOMETHING TO DRINK TO SHOW THEM THE LOVE OF GOD. BUT HOW OFTEN AREN'T WE LIKE WHAT MOSES WARNED GOD'S PEOPLE ABOUT IN OUR OLD TESTAMENT? THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING TO GO INTO A LAND OF PLENTY. A LAND THAT WAS OVERFLOWING WITH BLESSINGS. AND GOD KNOWS THE HUMAN HEART. BECAUSE HE SAID TO THEM: WHEN YOU ARE OUT HARVESTING IN YOUR GARDEN, AND IN YOUR FIELD, AND YOU DROP A SHEAF OF WHEAT, DON'T GO BACK AND PICK IT UP. WHEN YOU BEAT THE OLIVES OUT OF THE TREE, DON'T GO BACK AND BEAT IT AGAIN. WHEN YOU GO THROUGH AND HARVEST YOUR GRAPES, DON'T GO BACK AND HARVEST THEM AGAIN. BUT HUMAN NATURE SAYS WE HAVE TO GET EVERYTHING. WE HAVE TO GET EVERY LAST OLIVE. WE WANT EVERY LAST GRAPE PICKED FOR US, USED FOR US. WE WANT EVERY SINGLE KERNAL OF WHEAT TO BE OURS AND TO BE MINE AND TO BE IN MY BARN SO THAT I KNOW THAT I AM GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. THAT'S OUR HUMAN NATURE. THAT'S WHY GOD HAS TO COME TO US AND SAY: THINK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE WHAT WE HAVE. AND IF WE'RE GONNA CONSUME OUR LIFE WITH JUST GETTING AND GETTING AND KEEPING, WE ARE NOT SHOWING GOD'S LOVE. WE ARE TO REACH OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE TO GIVE THEM THINGS THAT ARE OURS, THAT ARE BLESSINGS OF OURS. AND IN OUR SHORT OLD TESTAMENT LESSON, MOSES REMINDED GOD'S PEOPLE WHY THEY WERE TO DO THAT. BECAUSE THEY WERE SLAVES IN EGYPT. AND GOD FREED THEM. GOD BROUGHT THEM TO THAT LAND. GOD GAVE THEM THAT LAND. GOD GAVE THEM THOSE OLIVES AND THOSE GRAPES AND THAT WHEAT. AND GOD SAID: LEAVE SOME FOR OTHERS. AND OUR SPIRITUAL FERVOR COMES FROM THE FACT THAT GOD HAS RELEASED US FROM SIN. WE COULDN'T GET OUT OF THAT SLAVERY. WE COULDN'T ESCAPE ITS BONDS. WE COULDN'T ESCAPE DEATH AND WE COULDN'T ESCAPE THE FLAMES OF HELL. BUT GOD CAME AND FREED US. HE SENT US JESUS CHRIST TO PUT SATAN IN HIS PLACE AND TO OPEN UP THE DOORS OF HEAVEN FOR US. TO CARRY US THROUGH TO OUR HEAVENLY HOME FREEING US FROM THE SHACKLES OF HELL. THAT IS WHAT GOD DID FOR US AND WE ARE BLESSED. BLESSED SPIRITUALLY. AND BLESSED PHYSICALLY WITH THE THINGS THAT GOD ALLOWS US TO HAVE FOR OUR DAILY NEEDS. TO HELP OTHERS. TO LOOK AT OTHERS WITH PITY AND WITH COMPASSION AND LOVE. INSTEAD OF HATE AND DESPISING THEM AND DISDAIN. TO START LIVING A LIFE OF CHRISTIAN LOVE THAT OPENS OURSELVES UP TO OTHER PEOPLE. AND PROVIDES THEM WITH THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED. THAT WE CAN DO THAT WITH BECAUSE OF GOD'S BLESSINGS TO US. TO TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE OUR FAITH. AND TO REMIND OURSELVES OF WHAT IT TRULY MEANS TO BE A REDEEMED CHILD OF GOD. SAVED BY JESUS CHRIST. CARED FOR AND BLESSED BY HIM. TO BLESS EACH OTHER. TO BLESS OTHER PEOPLE. AND TO BE REMINDED THAT AS THE BODY OF CHRIST WE ARE UNITED IN BROTHERLY LOVE WITH EACH OTHER. THAT THERE ISN'T CONCEIT AMONG US. THAT NONE OF US IS BETTER OR WORSE THAN ANYONE ELSE. BUT THAT WE TREAT EACH OTHER EQUALLY. WITH THE SAME LOVE AND THE SAME RESPECT IRREGARDLESS OF WHO STANDS BEFORE US. TO HAVE THAT UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WERE ALL SINNERS CONDEMNED TO HELL AND WE ARE ALL NOW CHILDREN OF GOD ON OUR WAY TO OUR ETERNAL HOME. LIVING IN FAITH. LOVING EACH OTHER. ENCOURAGING EACH OTHER. OPENING OUR HEARTS AND OUR LIVES AND LETTING EACH OTHER BE A PART OF THAT. TO REJOICE WITH EACH OTHER WHEN ONE OF US REJOICES. IN WHATEVER THAT MAY BE. NOT BEING JEALOUS THAT SOMEONE GOT A PROMOTION THAT WE DIDN'T. OR FOUND A HOUSE THAT WE COULDN'T AFFORD. NOT BEING JEALOUS OF WHAT SOMEONE ELSE DOES IN THEIR LIFE BECAUSE OF THE SITUATIONS THAT THEY FIND THEM IN WITH THE BLESSINGS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO THEM. BUT BEING TRULY HAPPY THAT GOD ALLOWS THEM THESE SPECIAL THINGS IN THEIR LIFE. TO REJOICE WITH EACH OTHER WHEN WE'RE HAPPY MEANS THAT WE CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER AND WE ARE UNITED WITH EACH OTHER. AND, YES, THERE WILL BE TIMES THAT WE MOURN WITH EACH OTHER. THAT WE SIT WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS LOST A LOVED ONE AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT PAIN. WE UNDERSTAND THAT LONELINESS. BUT WE ALSO COMFORT THEM WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORD. WE COME TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK AND IN NEED AND OFFER THEM OURSELVES TO HELP THEM. TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE IS SOMEONE PRAYING FOR THEM. LET THEM KNOW THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING FOR THEM. TO BE UNITED TOGETHER AS THE FAMILY OF GOD. INSTEAD OF A BUNCH OF BICKERING PEOPLE WHO ARE ONLY OUT FOR THEIR SELFISH MOTIVES. THAT IT'S ONLY ALL ABOUT ME AND HOW COME NOBODY REJOICES WITH ME? HOW COME NO ONE MOURNS WITH ME? HOW COME NOBODY DOES FOR ME? BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE, THAT I DON'T DO FOR ANYTHING ELSE ... OR ANYONE ELSE. BECAUSE MY LOVE IS NOT UP TO WHAT IT SHOULD BE. MY LOVE IS NOT FOCUSED ON CHRIST. AND PUTTING THAT OUT THERE FIRST AND FOREMOST PAUL REMINDS US TO LIVE. TO LIVE OUR LIFE OF FAITH. TO NOT SIT BACK AND WAIT FOR SOME TIME. BUT TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE THAT PERSON WHO IS IN NEED. AND NOT BE LIKE THE PEOPLE IN THE PARABLE THAT JESUS TAUGHT WHO WALKED PAST WITHOUT EVEN CARING. WHO WENT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. BUT TO BE THE PERSON WHO HAS COMPASSION. AND GIVE SOMETHING TO HELP. AND REMEMBER THE MAN WHO WANTED THAT JUSTIFICATION FOR HIS LIFE. JESUS TOLD HIM THAT PARABLE TO REMIND HIM THAT WE AREN'T ALWAYS PERFECT. EVEN AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD, WE CLOSE OUR EYES TO PEOPLE IN NEED. WE AVOID THEM. CUZ WE DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THEM. WE TAKE THAT SIN TO THE ONE WHO FORGIVES US AND LEAVE IT THERE. AND THEN WE COME BACK TO LIVE. TO LIVE IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. TO LIVE IN THE FAITH THAT IS OURS. TO LIVE OUR LIFE WHILE GOD HAS ALLOWED US TO BREATHE AND BE ACTIVE IN THIS WORLD. IT IS TRULY A BLESSING. AND IT'S A REMINDER TO US TO PUT THAT FAITH INTO PRACTICE. TO DO IT TODAY. TO NOT WAIT. THERE'S A SONG IN ANOTHER MUSICAL, IT'S HARDLY A SONG, IT'S A STATEMENT THAT SAYS ... LIFE IS A BANQUET. AND I PARAPHRASE: MOST POOR PEOPLE ARE STARVING TO DEATH. KIND OF LIKE OUR FAITH, TOO. OUR LIFE OF FAITH IS A BANQUET. IT IS FILLED WITH POSSIBILITIES. IT IS FILLED WITH OPPORTUNITIES. AND SOMETIMES WE'RE STARVING BECAUSE WE DON'T GET UP TO EAT. WE DON'T LOOK AT THOSE BLESSINGS AND SAY: THAT IS GOOD! THAT'S WHAT I WANT! THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO DO! TODAY WE HAVE BEEN REMINDED AND TODAY WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO LIVE! TO LIVE OUR LIFE OF FAITH. TO BE FILLED WITH THE FERVOR THAT COMES FROM KNOWING THAT WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD TO BE UNITED TOGETHER IN LOVE TO DO THAT WORK. TO GET UP AND TO LIVE. AMEN. LET US RISE. NOW MAY THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH GOES BEYOND ALL OF OUR UNDERSTANDING KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS AND ESPECIALLY YOUR LIVES IN THE ONE TRUE FAITH UNTO LIFE EVERLASTING. AMEN.